Tank lifter



C. AALBORG.

April 21, 1931.

TANK LIFTER Original Filed April 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIII II.

4 INVENTOR 'hr/sf/an Aa/bar WITNESSES: 2

ATIORNEY April 21, 1931- c. AALBORG 1,801,831

TANK LIFTER Original Filed April 15. 1925 s sheets-szieet 2 WITNESSES: IINVENTOR a 4 I C/yr/sf/an Ab/barg ATTORNEY azaw W;

Apri 21, 1931. c. AALBORG TANK LIFTER Original Filed April 15, 1925 3Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR mfg/m Ha/barg A ORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1931 sra'rss r oFFieCHRISTIAN AALBORG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TANKLIFTER Original application filed. April 15, 1925, Serial No. 23,400.Divided and this application filed March 2,

V This application is a division of application Serial No. 23.400, filedApr. 15, 1925.

My invention relates to power house equipment and particularly to tanklifters of the truck type. V

One object of my invention is to provide a tank lifter that shall adjustor clamp a tank in position after it has reached its'elevated position.

Another object of my invention is to provide atank-lifting and adjustingdevice that shall have a source of power that may be selectivelyutilized for elevating a portion of a circuit breaker tank or the likeand for adjusting or clamping the tank in elevated position. 7

It is a further object of my invention to provide an adjusting devicefor a plurality of groups of clamps such that the tension on all groupsof clamps is equalized.

In power stations, it is customary practice to mount the. cover membersof oil circuit interrupters fixedly with respect to the walls and floorsof the station. The cover members support the switch contact .members,insulating bushings, operating mechanism and the like. The tank membersof the circuit interrupters contain the insulating oil and are providedwith clamping means for securing them to the cover members. Suchclamping means are generally of a readily detachable character.

. A tank-lifting device, that is generally of the truck type, isprovided on each appropriate floor of the power house for raising andlowering the tanks when necessary. Heretofore, there has not beenprovided; so far as I am aware, a tank-lifting device that will alsooperate the adjusting orclamping means mounted on the cover members.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is an elevational view of acircuit interrupter and my improvedtank-lifting and adjusting device in operative connection thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in plan and partially in section along theline Il -II of [Fig.- 1, of the circuit interrupter and the Serial No.91,776.

Fig.

My invention comprises, in general, a'tank lifter 1 that is providedwith a motor 2 for lifting a tank 3 of a circuit interrupter and formanipulating clamping devices 4 for drawing and securing the circuitinterrupter tank 3 into engagement with the tank cover 5.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the tank lifter 1 comprises a base orplatform 11, from which supporting and guiding members 12 extendupwardly for supporting a differential gear mechanism 13 and carriage14. The motor 2 is mounted to the rear of the platform 11 and isconnected to a main drive shaft 15 that extends upwardly parallel to themembers 12 for engagement with the difierential gearing 13. A manuallyoperable clutch 16 is placed in the drive shaft 15 to insure that theattendant must always be present when the motor 2 is connected to thedifferential gearing 13.

A pair of threaded rods 17 extend downwardly from the gearing 13 andthrough openings 18 in thecarriage 14 for moving the latter along theguide members 12. The lower end of the rods 17 bear against a platform19, upon which the operator may stand when manipulating the tank lifter.A hand wheel 21 is also provided for manually actuating the differentialgearing 13.

Referring particularly to F igs. 1 and 2. a pair of square shafts 22extend forwardly from the differential gearing 13 andterrninate incoupling members 23 for engagement with the clamping devices 4. 'A.lever 24 is mounted on one of the guides 12 to permit the operator tomove the coupling members 23 and the square shafts 22 into and out ofengagement with the clamping devices 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 the shaft 15 and the hand wheel 21engage a ring gear 31 of the differential gearing 13. The shaft 15engages the ring gear 31 by means of a gear connection below the planeof Fig. 2 and is indicated by dottedconcentric circles. The ring gear 31is adapted to freely rotate about a shaft 32 that is square for aportion of its length as at 33. The shaft 32 does not extend through theentire length of the differential gear 13 but is complemented, at theright of the center of the differential gear 13, by a shaft 34 having asquare portion 35. Suitable bearing surfaces 36 and 37 are provided forsupporting the shafts 32 and Ring gear 31 turns within the bearingsurfaces 36 and 37 and outside of the shafts 32 and 34.

The ring gear 31 supports pair of stub shaft-s 38 that, in turn, carrypinions 39. The pinions 39 engage oppositely disposed gears 41 and 42that fit upon the square portions 33 and 35 of the shafts 32 and 34,respectively.

The shafts 32 and 34 are, accordingly, driven by the gears 41 and 42,respectively, but are capable of a differential action with respect toeach other such that they deliver equal torques. Ring gears 43 and 44are loosely mounted exteriorly of the hubs of the gears 41 and 42,respectively, whereby the hubs of the several gears are free to rotaterelatively to each other, except for frictional engagement, which isnegligible when considered in connection with the amount of torque to bedelivered by the shafts 32 and Ring gears 43 and 44 are adapted forengaging the screw threaded rods 17.

Driving clutches 45 and 46 are mounted for longitudinal movement on thesquare portions 33 and 35 of the shafts 32 and 34, re spectively, androtate therewith. Referring to Fig. 3, a hand lever system 47 is mountedeXteriorly of the differential gearing 13 for sliding the drivingclutches 45 and 46 inwardly and outwardly along the shafts 32 and 34,simultaneously. When the driving clutches 45 and 46 are moved inwardly,they engage the ring gears 43 and 44, respectively, and actuate thescrew-threaded rods 17.

The outer ends of the shafts 32 and 34, re spectively, are supported by,and rotate within, bevel gears 48 and 49, respectively, that, in turn,are connected to bevel gears 51 mounted on the squared shafts When thedriving clutches 45 and 46 are moved outwardly, by manipulation of thelever system 47, they disengage the ring gears '43 and 44, respectively,and engage the gears 48 and 49, re-

spectively, thereby causing the square shafts- 22 to rotate. If thecoupling members 23 are in engagement with the clamping devices 4, thelatter are manipulated in accordance with the direction of rotation ofthe shafts 22.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the covers of the circuit interruptersare supported by braces 55 from the walls 56 of the power house. Thecovers 5 support the terminal bushings 57 and the operating connections58 for the circuit interrupter. These latter features may be of any stanlard construction as they form no part of the present invention, exceptinsofar as they are necessary to complete the several combinationsdescribed and claimed. The cover 5 also supports the clamping devices 4,each of which comprises a shaft 61 that terminates in a coupling 62 forcooperation with the couplings 23. The shafts 61 are oppositely threadedas at 63 and 64 for a distance from each end. The threaded portions 63and 64 engage oppositely disposed clamps 65 whereby the clamps 65 aremoved inwardly and outwardly along the shaft 61. Referring particularlyto Fig. 1, the clamps 65 terminate in lugs 66 that engage and enterupwardly extending ears 67 carried by the circuit breaker tank 3.

In manipulating the tank lifter embodying my invention, assuming thetank to be removed from the circuit interrupter, the tank lifter 1 ismoved into the position indicated by dotted lines below the cover member5 and the motor 2 is started, or the hand wheel 21 turned. When the tanklifter 1 is driven by the motor 2, the operator grasps the handle of theclutch 16 and lifts it upwardly therebycausing the drive shaft 15 toturn the ring gear 31 and, through the intermediate gears, the shafts 32and 34. The operator then manipulates the lever system 47 to cause thedriving clutches 45 and 46 to engage the ring gears 43 and 44, wherebythe screw threaded rods 17 will be actuated to raise the carriage 14 andtank 3 supported thereby.

When the tank 3 has been raised so that the ears 67 are in their properposition, the operator manipulates the hand lever 47 to cause thedriving clutches 45 and 46 to engage the gears 48 and 49. At the sametime the operator manipulates the handle 24 to cause the couplingmembers 23 to move outwardly and engage the coupling members 62. Whensuch engagement is completed, motion is transmitted from the shafts 22to the shafts 61 and the clamps 65 are drawn toward each other to causethe lugs 66 to seat in the ears 67. By reason of the differential actionof the gearing 13, equal torque is always delivered to the screwthreaded rods 17 or to the shafts 61 which prevents any shaft from beingtensioned too tightly before its cooperating shaft is placed under thesame condition of ten- S1011.

When the clamping devices 4 are secured, the clutch 16 is released andthe differential gear 13 stops. The tank lifter 1 is then withdrawnautomatically disengaging the couplings 23 and 62.

In the event that it is desired to lower the circuit interrupter tank 3,the foregoing cycle of operations is reversed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a tank-lifting and adjustingdevice for circuit interrupters that both lowers and raises an elementof the circuit interrupter and is capable of adjusting or clamping thatele ment in place.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific arrangement of partsherein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire,therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicatedin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with clamping means comprising a pair of threadedrods, of a source of power for operating the rods, a portable carriagefor the source of power, and a coupling means on the carriage forconnecting the source of power to the rods.

2. The combination with clamping means comprising a pair of threadedrods, of a source of power for operating the rods, a detachable couplingmeans for connecting the source of power to the rods, and means fordifferentially operating the rods.

3. The combination with clamping means for a tank member of a circuitinterrupter comprising a pair of threaded rods, of a source of power foroperating the rods, coupling means comprising differential gearing forconnecting the source of power to the rods, and a portable framesupporting the coupling means and the source of power.

4. The combination with clamping means for uniting a tank member to acircuit in vterrupter comprising a pair of threaded rods, of a source ofpower for operating the rods, coupling means comprising differentialgearing for connecting the source of power to the rods, means forgripping the ends of the rods and a portable carriage for moving thegripping means into engagement with the said threaded rods.

5. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with clamping means for amember actuated, a pair of threaded rods, of a source of power foroperating the rods, coupling means comprising difierential gearing forconnecting the source of power to the rods, portable means for engagingthe ends of the rods, and means for controlling the coupling means forconnecting the engaging means to the source of power.

6. The combination with clamping means comprising a pair of threadedrods, of a source of power for operating the rods, couolin means comorisin differential earin b h b t) for connecting the source of power tothe rods, andmeans for controlling the operation of the coupling meanscomprising a longitudinally-adjustable shaft driven by the vgearmg.

7. The combination with clamping means comprising a pair of threadedrods, of a source of power for operating the rods, coupling meanscomprising a differential gear ing for connecting the source of power tothe rods, means for engaging the ends of the rods, and means forcontrolling the position of the engaging means comprising a shaftslidably connected to and driven by the gearing.

8. The combination with clamping means,

of a pair of threaded rods to actuate the said means for engaging andsupporting a memher, a'source of powerforoperating thevrods, a portablestructuresupporting the source of power,,and a coupLing means associatedwith the source of power adapted to engage the rods; through themovement of the said portable structure. a

9.The combination with clamping means, of apair of threaded rods foractuating the clamping means, a carriage supporting a source of power.for operating the rods, coupling meansmounted on the carriage adaptedtobe moved into engagement with therods and means on the carriageconnecting the sourceofpower to the coupling means,

10. The combination in a portable power device, of; afthreaded shaftdriven thereby, differential gearing operated by the threaded shaft, alifting device, a threaded rod associated with the differential gearingoperating the said lifting device, a clamping device, rotatable meansfor engaging and operating the said clampingdevice and means operable toselectively engage the rotatable means or the threaded rod with the saidthreaded shaft.

11 The-combination with a source of power operating a shaft, of adifferential driven thereby, a lifting device, a threaded rod foroperating the lifting device, a clamping means for the'member to belifted, and means for connecting the shaft through the differential tothe threaded rods orto the clamping means. 7 V

12. The combination with a portable lifting device, of a. source ofpower mounted thereon, a carriage onthe portablejdevice for engaging anelement, a pair of Vertically operated-grods forraising the carriage,apair of horizontally; operated rods. adapted to clamp the element inraised position and a diflerential and transmission means operable toconnect the source of power to either of the pairs of rods.

13. In a tank-lifting-and-adjusting device, a tank lifter, means foroperating the lifter, a clamping means for the tank, means for'opcratingthe clamping means and a source of power engageable with either of thesaid means to operate the lifter or the clamping means.

14; In a tank-liftingand-adjusting device, a portable lifter, a sourceof power associated therewith, clamping means for the tank,

means on the lifter for engaging the clamping means and means forconnecting the source of power to either the lifter or to theengaging'means.

15. The combination with a support having an element movable intoengagement therewith and a clamping means for said element, of a pair ofthreaded rods on the support for actuating the clamping means, portablemeans for engaging the threaded rods and a source of power on theportable means for actuating the rods.

16. The combination with a support having an element movable intoengagement therewith and a clamping means for said element, of a pair ofthreaded rods on the support for actuating the clamping means, portablemeans for engaging the threaded rods a differential associated with theportable means and a source of power on the portable means actuating thedifi'erential.

17. In combination with a clamping means having an element adapted to beclamped thereby, of a threaded screw for actuating the ClEUTlpil] means,a portable power device movable into engagement with said element andwith the said threaded screw and adapted to release and lower theelement.

18. The combination with a clamping means having a support therefor andan element held in engagement with said support by said clamping means,of a threaded screw for actuating the clamping means, a portable powerdevice movable into engagement with the element, a shaft on the powerdevice, difierential gearing operated by the shaft, and means operableto engage the gearing to raise the element and to operate the threadedscrew to clamp the element in position.

19. The combination with a portable lifting device having a source ofpower mounted thereon, and a carriage on the portable device forengaging an element, of a pair of vertically operated threaded rods forraising and lowering the carriage, a pair of horizon tally operatedthreaded rods, a clamping means for the element actuated thereby and adifferential and transmission means for connecting the source of powerto the vertically operated threaded rods and to the horizontallyoperated threaded rods.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th dayof February,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG.

